Watch your mouth
I don’t want to sound like your father, but when was the last time you said thank you? When was the last time you took a minute to hold the door for someone other than a family member? Said yes ma’am or no sir? These small acts of respect seem to be fading in today’s society.
I get it—we’re all busy, and sometimes we forget to use common manners. But that’s not an excuse. If my Mamaw (grandmother) saw me neglecting my duties as a man, she’d give me a talking-to or have me go get a switch… even as a grown man.
Why bring this up? Because we, as men and mentors of future men, need to be intentional about cultivating respect and humility. Whether we realize it or not, the younger generation is watching us and learning from our example.
My oldest son is now 19, but when he played youth sports, I saw firsthand how a lack of respect played out on the field. Some kids weren’t interested in being part of a team—they were only out for their own glory. And more often than not, you could trace their attitude back to their parents. The ones cheering for their kid to take the shot at all costs, even if passing was the better play. The ones making fun of another child who tripped or wasn’t as fast as their own. The ones who excused bad behavior, but the moment their kid was held accountable, they played the victim.
That kind of attitude doesn’t stop at youth sports. It carries over into adulthood—into the workplace, into relationships, into society as a whole.
Like it or not, the younger generation is picking up on our everyday actions. They see how we handle success and failure. They hear how we talk to strangers, coworkers, spouses, and friends. And at some point, they’ll start to mirror what they see.
So how do we change this? Unfortunately, it’s not something that happens overnight. Even now, I’m still working to undo certain habits—both in myself and in the influences my kids have encountered over the years. But change starts with us.
Make an effort to be more intentional about respect in your own life. Not just with words, but with actions. Hold the door. Say thank you. Treat others with kindness, even when it’s not convenient. And if you have kids in your life—whether they’re yours or not—pay attention to what they’re picking up from you. Because whether you like it or not, they are watching.
The challenge: For the next week, be intentional about showing respect. Say thank you more often, hold the door for a stranger, and use yes sir and no ma’am when appropriate. But more importantly, pay attention to the younger generation. Watch how they interact, listen to how they speak, and take note of what behaviors they’re picking up. If you see something that needs to change, don’t just point it out—lead by example.
